Chinese Clone The MCC Smart

The Chinese are either the best or worst reverse-engineers in the world. Check out this from Shandong Huoyun, a division of the Qilu Petrochemical Corporation; it's a nearly indistinguishable knockoff of the Smart Fortwo. Under the skin, however, it's an entirely different beast. As its name reveals, the HuoYun Electromobile is an EV with a range of 75 miles and a top speed of 31 mph. Considering it's also lacking the Smart passenger-safety cell, 31 mph is probably more than fast enough. We also hear some enterprising New Yorkers have already started selling these from a blanket laid out on Fifth Avenue. Caveat emptor, German tourists. – Mike Spinelli
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S4cabriofox - 10/16/2006 9:37:01 PM

+2 Boost

Are you serious???

This isn't a Smart???

They copied it right down to the trim lines!

The Chinese are so thrifty with their designs... it reminds me of how the Japanese used to be, especially the original Lexus LS400 ripoff.

RCboy18 - 10/16/2006 9:51:31 PM

+2 Boost

I'm with ya S4! And man, my bike has bigger rims that golf cart. hahaha!

and are those RACING seats in that thing! wow, what is goin' on over there, dont tell me they're drifting with those now!

00JT - 10/17/2006 1:20:42 AM

+1 Boost

Most bikes have larger wheels and tires than the average car.

mstangpny07 - 10/16/2006 10:16:47 PM

+3 Boost

Yes I wonder what happens when you hit a wall at 31 mph. Like all Chinese cars, it will collapse. No thanks.
BTW nice rims.

S4cabriofox - 10/16/2006 10:41:14 PM

+1 Boost

Oh, totally. Those are what I'm getting on my new fantasy CL65...

rocker - 10/16/2006 11:25:05 PM

+1 Boost

Did the Chinese miss the whole Yugo fad?

lexusis350 - 10/16/2006 11:43:25 PM

+1 Boost

Chinese companies have been sued for their highly reminiscent looks. I bet they get sued again.

UPshift - 10/17/2006 1:30:54 AM

+1 Boost

....and nothing becomes of it.

M53R - 10/17/2006 6:52:32 AM

+1 Boost

they like being sued i guess. . . .

BMW530i - 10/17/2006 8:51:18 AM

+1 Boost

Good post. Adding to that, this Chinese Smart looks 99% true to the German one. I'm always surprised how they ca n get away with such obvious disregard of copyright laws.

chewy - 10/17/2006 7:17:07 PM

+1 Boost

You can only copyright published material I think.

lexusis350 - 10/17/2006 11:16:41 PM

+1 Boost

I think Honda won the law suit from the Chinese version of the CR-V, called something like the SR-V. There was no difference except the name.

UPshift - 10/17/2006 3:36:34 PM

+1 Boost

You would think China would have some pride in its booming consumer market and manufacturing capabilities and showcase something original.

With all the resources and technology China has, it would seem to be a no-brainer to develop something distinctly Chinese that they could stand behind and show national pride in. Instead, they always seem to play "me too" and "catch-up'.

It should say "This is the People's Car" not "This is the People's Car, a shoddy copy of superior Western design".

Just goes to show that communism is the mortal enemy of innovation. Just look at automotive empires of the former Soviet Union or East Germany. *shudder*